Relationship of plasma renin with a prothrombotic state in hypertension: relevance for organ damage.
BACKGROUND
Components of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and a prothrombotic state are predictors of cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients. A relationship between the RAAS and the coagulation/fibrinolytic systems has been demonstrated, but its clinical relevance in hypertension is unclear. We investigated the relationships of the RAAS and the hemostatic system with hypertensive organ damage.


METHODS
Plasma components of the RAAS and parameters that directly assess the activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis were measured in 247 essential hypertensive patients in whom the extent of organ damage had been characterized at the cardiac, renal, and vascular level.


RESULTS
Positive association with increasing plasma renin activity (PRA) was demonstrated for plasma fibrinogen, D-dimer, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels. PRA was directly correlated with plasma aldosterone, fibrinogen, d-dimer, and PAI-1. The relationship of PRA with fibrinogen and PAI-1 remained significant after correction for age, gender, duration of hypertension, and smoking status. Plasma aldosterone levels were directly correlated with fibrinogen, D-dimer, and PAI-1, whereas plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme was not related with any of the coagulation parameters. Elevated PRA, aldosterone, fibrinogen, D-dimer, prothrombin fragment 1+2, and PAI-1 levels were associated with clinical and/or instrumental evidence of hypertension-related cardiac and renal damage. Both fibrinogen and PAI-1 were independent predictors of the presence of organ damage and their inclusion in a multivariate model eliminated PRA and aldosterone as independent predictors.


CONCLUSIONS
A strong and independent association exists between renin, aldosterone, and markers of a prothrombotic state in essential hypertension. This relationship might contribute to the development of hypertensive organ damage.
Sechi
Leonardo A
LA
Hypertension Unit, Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Experimental and Clinical Pathology and Medicine (DPMSC), University of Udine, Udine, Italy. sechi@uniud.it
Novello
Marileda
M
Colussi
GianLuca
G
Di Fabio
Alessandro
A
Chiuch
Alessandra
A
Nadalini
Elisa
E
Casanova-Borca
Alessia
A
Uzzau
Alessandro
A
Catena
Cristiana
C
D000328:Adult; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood*; D000465:Algorithms; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D007558:Italy; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011516:Prothrombin; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood*; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System; D012307:Risk Factors; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; C036309:fibrin fragment D; C045879:prothrombin fragment 1.2; D000450:Aldosterone; D011516:Prothrombin; D005340:Fibrinogen; D012083:Renin